The Ashes. It's the little urn that brings two countries to a standstill for 25 days of nail-biting cricket. It's every Australian kids dream, to walk out onto Lords in an Ashes match, with a green cap upon their head and watching Brett Lee or Mitchell Johnson steam into the crease.
Both sides have had heavily contrasting fortunes leading up to The Ashes. On one side of the coin you have England, battered and bruised and all at sea. Beaten by a far from world class West Indies outfit in the Caribbean and rifts and riots all throughout the administration. Australia on the other hand, travelled to South Africa to face a home side that was full of confidence and experience. It was the beginning of a new era; no McGrath, no Warne, no Gilchrist, Martyn or Hayden. No Brett Lee or Stuart Clark or Andrew Symonds. But the young Australians came out fighting and were victorious, affirming their position at the top of world cricket.
After scratching around at the bottom of the box for a bowling attack that would eventually become a huge success in the South African series, the selectors now have a whole group of fresh and experienced bowlers to choose from for the Ashes.
Six pacemen will be auditioning for a spot in the most exciting event on the cricket calendar. Only three, or if no spinner is opted for, four will get the job, and nothing separates the six as far as ability is concerned. Do Brett Lee and Stuey Clark instantly return to the side on merit of past performances alone? Hilfenhaus and Siddle deserve their spots in the line up alongside Mitchell Johnson after carrying a huge load on their shoulders in South Africa, but does that mean they can keep out the one of the greatest bowlers ever (Lee) and the guy that terrorised the English batsman in the last Ashes series (Clark)? And is there a spot for Doug 'The Rug' Bollinger in the side, who is quick and could swing the ball nicely in English conditions?
The next spot up for grabs that of the spinner. Will they ever trust the 36 year old leg spinner, Bryce McGain with the job again after being absolutely carted in his first game? Or will Nathan Hauritz, the baby faced off spinner from New South Wales that has been playing so brilliantly in the one day line up get the job? Both have their pros and cons, McGain is a classic leggy who, when on song is a witty and experienced campaigner who can give the ball a rip. But will he be able to hold his nerve if the batsmen go after him again? Haurtiz naturally doesn't spin the ball as much, but is accurate and gets massive amounts of drift in the air, plus is a more than handy lower order batsman and fielder. Or maybe the selectors will go with an all out pace battery and entrust the spinners job to part-timers like Clarke, North, Symonds and Katich who have done the job in the past.
And, of course, the final spot is that extremely vital and highly debated number 6 position. Required; one incredibly capable lower order batsman who can steady the ship or take the game away from the opposition, and can bowl some more than handy part time spin and/or pace. Can Marcus North do the job, who made a great century on debut in tough batting conditions and is more than handy off spin bowler? Or how about Andrew Symonds, who is experienced and can tear an opposition side apart with bat, ball or in the field? Or can Andrew McDonald fill the void, who finally proved his ability with the bat in the final test in South Africa and, of course is a fine, line and length medium pacer?
Throughout your lifetime, you don't get many opportunities to live your childhood dreams. Yet 11 lucky cricketers will get to do just that in a couple of months time. 11 places are all there are. 11 players will take the field in an Ashes test at the Mecca of cricket in July. And with a huge group of players all fit and ready to go, and with only a handful of 20/20 matches to prove their worth between now and then, start submitting your application forms now!
i'm still procrastinating!
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